Texas and country music are inseparable. The genre was shaped by the state’s ranch culture, border towns, honky tonks and storytelling traditions, and the DFW area is one of the best places in the country to hear it live. If you are visiting for the 2026 international soccer tournament, live country music is one of the easiest and most memorable things to add to your itinerary.
Here is where to find it.
The Stockyards are the epicenter of live country music in North Texas. Billy Bob’s Texas at 2520 Rodeo Plaza has live entertainment daily, from regional artists to national headliners, plus indoor bull riding and a massive dance floor. White Elephant Saloon at 106 East Exchange Avenue is a classic Western saloon with nightly live music and a more intimate atmosphere. Second Rodeo Brewing at 122 East Exchange Avenue combines craft beer with daily live music in a casual, modern setting.
The Stockyards are about 30 minutes west of the Arlington Entertainment District by car.
A legendary Deep Ellum dive bar with live music every night. Adair’s is famous for greasy burgers and for fostering young country talent. If you want a raw, no-frills honky tonk experience in Dallas, this is it.
A long-standing Dallas staple for two-stepping. Cowboys Red River has a huge dance floor, regular dance lessons and live country bands. It is the closest thing to a Fort Worth honky tonk inside the Dallas city limits.
A popular uptown Dallas venue with a large outdoor patio, high-quality sound and frequent live performances from local and national Texas country artists. The setting is more polished than a traditional honky tonk, but the music is authentic.
Located in Plano, this venue is dedicated specifically to Texas music and cuisine. Singer-songwriter nights showcase the storytelling side of country music in a setting that feels personal and unhurried.
Levitt Pavilion in Downtown Arlington hosts free outdoor concerts throughout the spring and summer. The schedule includes country, rock, Latin and other genres, and the 2026 lineup runs through the tournament window. Concerts play from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. CT. Bring a blanket and enjoy the music at no cost.
Arlington Backyard is the 5,000-capacity outdoor venue inside the Texas Live! complex, between Globe Life Field and Dallas Stadium. The venue hosts concerts, postgame performances and the La Fiesta del Futbol concert series during the 2026 soccer tournament.
PBR Texas has live music and a mechanical bull inside the Texas Live! complex. It is the most convenient country music option for visitors staying in the Arlington Entertainment District.
Texas country music crowds are welcoming. Two-stepping is the primary dance style, and beginners are encouraged. Several venues offer free weekly dance lessons. The basic step is quick-quick-slow-slow, moving counterclockwise around the floor.
Dress is casual. Jeans, boots and a hat fit the setting, but you will not be out of place in sneakers and a T-shirt. The music typically starts between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. CT and runs until midnight or later on weekends.
Many of these venues work well before or after a Texas Rangers game at Globe Life Field. PBR Texas and Arlington Backyard are within walking distance of the ballpark. Get tickets to see the Rangers in 2026 and pair baseball with live music for a full Texas evening.
PBR Texas and Arlington Backyard at Texas Live! are within walking distance of Globe Life Field. The Fort Worth Stockyards are 30 minutes west.
Yes. Levitt Pavilion in Downtown Arlington hosts free outdoor concerts throughout the spring and summer.
No. Several venues offer free lessons, and the crowd is welcoming to beginners.
Live music typically begins between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. CT and runs until midnight or later on weekends. Levitt Pavilion shows run 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. CT.
Daytime and early evening shows at Levitt Pavilion and Arlington Backyard are family-friendly. Honky tonks and bar venues are generally 21 and over after a certain hour.
About 25 minutes east by car. Deep Ellum has live music venues across multiple genres, including country at Adair’s Saloon.
